The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess: ‘We used to blow coke up each other’s arses’

The Charlatans‘ singer Tim Burgess has made a rather startling revelation in his new autobiography, Telling Stories.

The book, which is described as a “frank and vivid memoir” by its publishers, promises tales of rock’n’roll excess and it certainly offers that, especially with one particular revelation.

Part way through, Burgess casually reveals that he and his bandmates used to indulge in offering each other ‘Manhattan-powdered doughnuts’. For the uninitiated, that’s not New York-specific snack, but the practice of blowing cocaine up each others’ arses.

He writes: “We discovered the process of blowing coke up each others’ arses. There, I have said it. It’s not like we invented the practice, but I realise now it’s not an everyday thing for most people.”

Burgess then goes on to placate libel lawyers by assuring the general public that the whole band did not take part and also smashes that age old cliché that it’s better to give than receive.

He continues: “Not every member of The Charlatans took part in this highly-charged ritual, which has been described as having ‘a Manhattan-powdered doughnut’. I was a giver and receiver. They say giving is better than receiving, but believe me, in this case the giving is not that great.”

No wonder, then, that Burgess named his limited-edition breakfast cereal ‘Totes Amazeballs’ rather than ‘Manhattan Powdered Doughnuts’. The book is published next Thursday (April 26).